How to Celebrate Swedish Midsummer No Matter Where You Are

The downlow on how to celebrate Swedish Midsummer, even if you don’t find yourself in the Scandinavian North. 

Swedish Midsummer: that blissful time of year where you gather with your friends and family to celebrate the sun, all complete with good food and drink.

The celebration of summer solstice in Sweden is one of the most celebratory moments of the year. This should come as no surprise; if you lived in darkness for much of the year you would want to celebrate too.

A good Swedish Midsummer consists of several key ingredients. Fortunately, even if you’re not in Sweden, you can celebrate the arrival of summer in full Swedish style.

1. Serve pickled herring

Swedes serve pickled in a variety of sauces, and making your own is actually easier than you might expect.

2. Serve salmon

Cured or otherwise.

3. Find a bottle (wait, several) of Aquavit

Fortunately for you Scandinavian liquor lovers, traditional Aquavit is made by a few American distilleries:  North ShoreHouse Spirits and 45th Parallel.

4. Boil potatoes and add dill

Serve in an appropriate minimalist Scandinavian themed ceramic bowl with creme fraiche and aforementioned herring.

5. Make a dessert that includes whipped cream and some fruit item, ideally strawberries.

Other appropriate fruit: rhubarb, blackcurrant, bluberries. You could also serve a classic kladdkaka (chocolate cake).

6. Invite a lot of people and serve the several-course, sit down dinner around a long farm table. 

And have them all wear flower wreaths.

7. Sing songs

No Midsummer dinner is complete without singing. Start here.

8. Watch the sun set and rise

Well, actually if you were in Sweden it wouldn’t really set and rise. So celebrate in the light of dusk!


Leave a comment